Australia’s Migrations Program Planning Levels: Key Insights & Future Outlook

On May 14, 2024, the Australian Government set the 2024–25 Migration Program at 185,000 places to address skill shortages and expedite regional visa processing. This program aims to enhance the working-age population, increase labor force participation, and strengthen family and community ties, highlighting migrants' role in social cohesion.

On May 14, 2024, the Australian Government announced that the permanent Migration Program for 2024–25 will be set at 185,000 places. This program aims to address skill shortages in key sectors and expedite visa processing for regional areas while building a robust pipeline of highly skilled domestic workers.

The 2024–25 Migration Program highlights the significant role migrants play in fostering social cohesion. It emphasizes the importance of strengthening family and community ties within Australia.

A well-targeted, skill-focused Migration Program is designed to enhance the working-age population, increase participation rates, and expand the labor force.

Also Read: Australia Unveils Immigration Policy Changes for Fall 2024

The highlights of the program for 2024–25 are structured as follows:

1. Skill Stream: Allocated 132,200 places, making up about 71% of the total program. This Skilled migration stream is aimed at boosting the economy's productive capacity and addressing labor market skill shortages, particularly in regional Australia.
2. Family Stream: Allocated 52,500 places, approximately 28% of the program this stream predominantly comprises Partner visas, facilitating the reunification of Australians with their overseas family members and providing pathways to citizenship. This includes:
   1. An estimated 40,500 Partner visas for planning purposes in 2024–25, noting this category is demand-driven.
   2. An estimated 3,000 Child visas for planning purposes in 2024–25, also noting this category is demand-driven.
3. Special Eligibility Stream: Allocated 300 places. This stream includes visas for individuals in special circumstances, such as permanent residents returning to Australia after time abroad.

Federal Budget 2024 - 2025: Visa Stream Allocations

The table below summarizes the planning levels for the Migration Program in both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 Federal Budgets, categorizing visas into Skill, Family, and Special Eligibility streams.

Also Read: Australia Tightens English Language Requirements for Student and Graduate Visas

Australian Government Announces Migration Program Changes for 2024–25

The Australian Government has revealed adjustments to the 2024–25 Permanent Migration Program, setting the planning level at 185,000 with a notable 70:30 split between the Skill and Family streams.

1. Employer-Sponsored Visas

In a move to streamline pathways to permanent residency, the Government has raised the planning level for Employer-Sponsored visas from 36,825 to 44,000, building on recent expansions initiated in November 2023.

2. State/Territory Nominated and Regional Visas

Planning levels for State/Territory Nominated and Regional categories have surged to 33,000 each. These categories, accounting for a significant portion of the Skill stream, aim to address specific economic and labor force challenges across different regions.

3. Skilled Independent Visas

The allocation for Skilled Independent visas stands at 16,900, a decrease from the previous year but still significantly higher than COVID-era levels.

4. Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)

The Government has opted to reduce the planning level for the BIIP to 1,000 visas, signaling the closure of the program by July 2024. This decision follows a review highlighting suboptimal economic outcomes.

Also Read: Australia’s New Innovation Visa Poised to Attract Top Talent

5. Global Talent Visas

Planning levels for the Global Talent Visa Program have been slightly lowered to 4,000 visas. This adjustment aligns with broader reforms and anticipates the transition to the new National Innovation visa, offering permanent residency to exceptionally talented migrants.

These changes reflect the Government's commitment to attracting skilled individuals while ensuring economic benefits and aligning with evolving immigration strategies.

6. Family Stream

The government maintains a family migration stream, emphasizing the importance of family reunification. Partner visa program shifted to a demand-driven model to address backlog and processing times.

Parent visa program remains at 8,500 places, Other Family category at 500. Child visa program, with 3,000 places, prioritizes reunification with Australian parents or family sponsors. Measures aim to uphold international obligations and foster social cohesion.

Also Read: How to Get Australian Visa for Parents?

State & Territory Visa Nomination Categories Allocation

States and territories are allocated nomination quotas for skilled visas under the Migration Program. Each state and territory evaluates applicants based on their unique criteria. These include the

• Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visas

The Department continues processing existing and new applications nominated by states or territories, aligning with the permanent Migration Program's planned levels and skilled visa processing priorities.

A Note to Multi-Year Migration Planning Model

Starting in 2025–26, Australia's Migration Program will transition to a multi-year planning model, expanding the planning horizon to four years from the current twelve-month cycle. This extended outlook will allow migration planning to better align with long-term infrastructure, housing, and services planning at all levels of government.

A key aspect of this multi-year approach is the incorporation of housing supply as a major factor in shaping the direction of long-term migration planning. Public consultation on the size and composition of the first four-year cycle, covering 2025–26 to 2028–29, will begin later this year.

Also Read: Breaking News: TOEFL Scores Now Accepted for Australian Visas

Time is Right! Apply for Australia PR

Considering migrating to Australia? With the new multi-year migration planning model starting in 2025–26, now is the perfect time to apply for permanent residency. This extended outlook ensures better alignment with infrastructure and housing plans, enhancing your settlement experience.

For expert guidance and a smoother application process, seek assistance from GetGIS. Our comprehensive package includes visa documentation for interview preparation, post-landing services, and much more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the new immigration rules for Australia student visas in 2024?

In early 2024, the English language requirement for Student visas will increase. The IELTS score for a Student 500 visa will rise from 5.5 to 6.0.

Q2. What are the immigration statistics for Australia in 2024?

In March 2024, Australia saw 761,050 short-term visitor arrivals (up 24.1%) and 767,110 short-term resident returns (up 20.7%), totaling 1,614,830 arrivals (up 20.1%).

Q3. How many years does it take to get PR in Australia?

Adults who became permanent residents on or after 1 July 2007 must reside in Australia for 4 years before applying for citizenship, including 12 months as a permanent resident with limited absences.

Q4. What is the minimum IELTS score required for Australia immigration in 2024?

For immigration in 2024, an overall IELTS score of at least 6.0 is required, with a minimum of 5.0 in each section. Post-study work rights for subclass 485 visa applicants are also being shortened.

Q5. What is the success rate of Australia student visas in 2024?

The success rate for Australian student visas in 2023-24 as of March 2024 is between 85.1% and 86.7%.